Motor-driven washing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Ship or building rows of windows are cleaned by a series of motor-driven, essentially vertical, rotation symmetrical, preferably cylindrical brushes mounted in a frame having a portion thereof dependent from a rail secured to the front of the building or side of the ship over the windows to be cleaned.

United States Patent [1 1 Carlsson l l MOTOR-DRIVEN WASHING APPARATUS [7o] lnventor: Rolf Gottfrid Carlsson.

Kullhaekstorpsvagen 21. 5-435 ()0 Molnlycke. Sweden [22] Filed: Apr. 26. 1974 21 Apple NU; 464.635

Related Application Data [631 Continuatinn-in-part of Ser. No. 270.987. July 12.

1972. abandoned.

1301 Foreign Application Priority Data June IV 1973 Sweden .1 7168/72 [52] U.S. Cl 15/50 C; 1S/1(J3'.114/222 [51] Int. Cl A471 1/04 [581 Field of Search 15/49 R. 49 C, 50 R, 50 C,

[ June 10, 1975 [561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.298.052 1/1967 Wolfe M 15/50 C X 3.344.454 10/1967 Mikalson 15/50 C 3.396.423 8/1968 Hope 114/222 X Primary ExuminerEdward L. Roberts [57] ABSTRACT Ship or building rows of windows are cleaned by a series of motor-driven. essentially vertical, rotation sym metrical, preferably cylindrical brushes mounted in a frame having a portion thereof dependent from a rail secured to the front of the building or side of the ship over the windows to be cleaned.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MOTOR-DRIVEN WASHING APPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCI; TO RELATED APPLlfA'I ION The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 270.98 filed July 12. I972. and now abandoned. entitled "h lotor-Driven Washing Apparatus." the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIFII) OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a motor-driv en washing apparatus especially intended for washing rows of windows on ships and buildings.

Prior to the invention building window washing was done manually. which is both expensive. and. as to ships at sea. sometimes impossible. Even in a moderately rough sea the lower rows of windows on a passenger vessel quickly become opaque or obscured due to salt precipitates from spray water. It is therefore desirable to provide sim le and efficient means to keep the windows clean without resorting to manual washing.

In public buildings. restaurants. hotels and the like located at the seaside similar requirements prevail. It should therefore be understood that although the invention is described as it relates to ships. this does not limit the invention which may be applied to the washing of windows and fronts of buildings as w ell.

According to the invention the above problem is solved by the provision of a motor-driv en washing apparatus constructed and operated as hereinafter described,

Further details and features of an apparatus accord' ing to the invention will be evident from the following specification and drawings. and the appended claims,

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I shows the apparatus in side view. perpendicular to the side of the ship.

FIG. 2 is a -ide view. partly in section. ofthe apparatus viewed parallel to the side of the ship;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus;

Fl(i. 4 shows a detail of the apparatus of FIG. 2. namely the lower support arm. viewed from below;

FIG. 5 shows another detail of the apparatus of FIG. 2, namely the hollow arm and two conduits conducted through this hollow arm; and

FIG. 6 shows schematically the position of the conduits when the washing unit moves along the track from one extreme position to another.

The washing apparatus according to the invention comprises a transport motor 1 which provides the nec essary force to move the washing apparatus. and a second motor 2 for rotating a cylindrical. vertical brush 3. Motors 1 and 2 are secured to the upper part of a square or oblong framework 4. At the midpoint of the lower side of the framework there is a hearing for the vertical brush 3.

A support rail 5 is secured to the side of the ship (not shown) above the rows of windows. The frontal. lower edge of the support rail 5 carries a rack 6. the gears of which face inwards. The motor I drives a gear wheel 8 via a suitable gear box or similar transmission 7, which gear vv heel 8 meshes with the rack 6. An idling counter pressure roller 9 acting from the opposite side prov ides the connection between rack and gear wheel. In the frame 4. some distance from the wheel 8 there is similar. but idling gear wheel III which together with the idler roller 1] prevents the apparatus from turning in the vertical direction with respect to the support rail 5. At the lower edge of the framework 4 is supported to the side of the ship (not shown) b means of an arm I2 carrying at its free end a roller 13. The arm I2 is secured to the frame at the point where the lower shaft of the brush 3 is iournalled. One or both of the vertical edge members of the frame 4. which as well as the rest of the framework are manufactured from metal tube material. are provided or shaped with water noZ/les. such as the nozzles I4 directed perpemlicularly towards the side of the ship and the windows (not shown) for rinsing. and the nozzles IS. which are directed inclined with respect to the side of the ship and/or the windows so that the water jets reach the rotating brush 3.

Under the support rail 5 there are two L'-shaped channels Iba and [6b. serving as ducts for two cables 17a and [71). respectively. for water and electricity. respectively. A transverse hollow arm I8 connected to the apparatus by a support member 19. is situated under the support rail 5 and extends at one end out over said channels I611 and I611. The cables 17a and 17h are drawn out of the channels I61: and 16b and are laid in bows in the hollow arm I8. As shown in FIGS, 2 and 3. the cables 17a and 17h in channels ltm and 16/) enter the hollow arm l8 at one end thereof via openings I81: and 18h. respectively. then pass through the hollow arm 18 to the other end thereof. and then exit the hollow arm 18 via opening 180. The cables l7u and 171i pass from exit I81 downwardly along support member 19 and through holding device 17c (FIG. 2). The cable 170 then extends along the washing apparatus to the framework 4 and the end of the cable 17a is connected to a hollow part of the framework 4 by a connection I71! FIG. I). The hollow part of the framework 4 is provided with the nozzles 14 and I5 (FIG. 3). and thus these nozzles will receive water from the cable 17a. The cable 17h extends along the washing apparatus and is connected to an electrical terminal 17:! for the two motors I and 2 by a plug I7f(FlGS. 2 and 3 As shown in FIG. 6. the cables 17a and 17h are connected to the ship or the building at the mid-point of the path of travel ofthe washing unit. The connections are shown schematically at 17 and 17h. corresponding to terminal I711 and plug 17f. respectively. When the washing apparatus is positioned in one extreme position (A). the cables 17a and I7! extend from the connections [7g and I7]: to the hollow arm 18 and essentially lay straight on the bottom side of the channels 16a and [6]). When the washing apparatus moves to the right to position (8). the cables 17a and 17!) will be laid in a bow in the channels 16a and 16h as shown. When the washing apparatus is positioned in the other extreme position (C). the cables 17a and I7!) lay essentially straight on the bottom side of the other part of the channels 161! and 16b. as shown by dotted lines.

While not essential. the hollow arm 18 is preferably journalled in the support member I) by a member 19a. Thus. the hollow arm will turn about its longitudinal axis when the washing apparatus is moving along its path. The result of a turnable arm 18 is that when the washing unit executes its reciprocation movement. the parts of the cables I71! and 17/ laying nearest the hollow arm 18 will always extend in a slight how so as to protect the cables from bending stresses. The extension ofthe cables 17a and 17h nearest the arm I8 when the washing apparatus is positioned in tvv o different positions is shown in FIG. 5.

It should be realized that the embodiment described may be modified in man wa vs without departing from the scope of the invention. it is for example possible to use the same motor for transport as well as for driving the brush. if a proper gearbox is used which gives the desired travelling speed as well as the desired rotational speed of the brush. It is of course also possible to use more than one brush in one and the same apparatus in parallel. either driving them from a common motor or from indi\idual motors.

Provided that the brush speed and direction of rotation has a fixed relation to the speed of tune] and the direction of the apparatus it mav be practical to dri\e the lower support roller 13 from the shaft of the brush especiall if the apparatus is so high that for example the brush evtends over two or more rows of windows. in the latter case the brush ma v have a comparativel smaller avial length than the length of the shaft, and be provided with means lnot shown) for positioning the brush at an v desired axial location so as to. for example. clean one row of windows at a time. The nozzles may then either be axially movable together with the brush or the mat be di\ided into groups. one for each row of windows. The brush is preferabl of the kind used in automatic car washing equipment. i.e. provided with long. flexible bristles 20 of NYLON or other suitable s \nthetic material which is thrown out and makes a soft. resiliant contact with the windows when the brush rotates. Finall} the washing apparatus according to the invention ma be provided with suitable end oftravel or other suitable contacts for causing the apparatus to travel to and fro between predetermined limits. as well as with means for moving the brush to different axial positions in order to clean different rows of windows. These and other similar arrangements and means will be clear to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for cleaning vertical surfaces of a ship or building comprising a. a rail member disposed horizontally on said surface. said rail member having. in cross-section. a horizontal covering portion extending outwardly from said surface. a support portion extending downwardlv from the outermost edge of said covering portion. and a horizontal track portion extending inwardly towards said surface from the bottoinmost edge of said support portion, b. at least one U-shaped channel disposed horizon tall v on said surface under said covering portion of said rail member, said channel being operable to receive a conduit. and a movable washing unit comprising i. a frame:

ii. wheel means rotatably mounted on said frame for engagement with upper surface of said track portion of said rail and operable to support said washing unit during movement along said rail;

iii. means operable to move said washing unit along said rail;

iv. at least one vertical brush means rotatably mounted on said frame for washing engagement with said surface:

v. means operable to rotate said brush means:

vi. wash fluid spray means; and

vii. a hollow arm disposed on said frame so as to ride under said covering portion of said rail upon engagement of said wheel means with said track portion. said arm being operable to receive a conduit at one end from said channel and con duct said conduit through its hollow core to said washing unit.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said hollow arm is pivotabl mounted on said frame.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said track portion is a rack and said wheel means is at least one pinion engageable therewith.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said channel is operable to receive a hose conduit and a second U-shaped channel is disposed on said first channel. said second channel being operable to receive an electrical cable.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the bottom of said first channel is lower than the bottom of said second channel. 

1. An apparatus for cleaning vertical surfaces of a ship or building comprising a. a rail member disposed horizontally on said surface, said rail member having, in cross-section, a horizontal covering portion extending outwardly from said surface, a support portion extending downwardly from the outermost edge of said covering portion, and a horizontal track portion extending inwardly towards said surface from the bottommost edge of said support portion, b. at least one U-shaped channel disposed horizontally on said surface under said covering portion of said rail member, said channel being operable to receive a conduit, and c. a movable washing unit comprising i. a frame; ii. wheel means rotatably mounted on said frame for engagement with upper surface of said track portion of said rail and operable to support said washing unit during movement along said rail; iii. means operable to move said washing unit along said rail; iv. at least one vertical brush means rotatably mounted on said frame for washing engagement with said surface; v. means operable to rotate said brush means; vi. wash fluid spray means; and vii. a hollow arm disposed on said frame so as to ride under said covering portion of said rail upon engagement of said wheel means with said track portion, said arm being operable to receive a conduit at one end from said channel and conduct said conduit through its hollow core to said washing unit.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said hollow arm is pivotably mounted on said frame.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said track portion is a rack and said wheel means is at least one pinion engageable therewith.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said channel is operable to receive a hose conduit and a second U-shaped channel is disposed on said first channel, said second channel being operable to receive an electrical cable.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the bottom of said first channel is lower than the bottom of said second channel. 